Picking out a recent outstanding performer, this week we take a look at Samu Kerevi’s performance in the win over South Africa.
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Samu Kerevi doesn’t turn 23 until the end of the month, and when he does he’s bound to look back on the last year very fondly.
Because while he flirted with grabbing the spotlight in 2015 with the Reds, the 2016 season has absolutely been Kerevi’s time. He transformed from a promising talent into a dominant force, with only Damian McKenzie beating more defenders in Super Rugby.
The cousin of Radike Samo certainly has the frame to do plenty of damage – at 186cm and 108 kg – but it’s Kerevi’s subtle offloads that make him more than just a battering ram.
His chase of Elton Jantjies wasn’t enough to prevent the Springbok fly-half from kicking ahead for Johan Goosen’s try but from then on he rarely faltered, sucking in defenders wary of the threat he poses from short-range to give Adam Coleman the space out wide for the lock’s try.
There was so much to like about his second half, a highlight being when he sliced through the Springbok defence and offloading out of the tackle despite having Goosen and Warren Whiteley draped all over him. From there Australia won a penalty to take the lead.
A tight TMO call denied Kerevi a first Test try on his fourth cap, and fourth start, but that won’t be far away.
The Fiji-born wrecking ball from Brisbane seems to thrive on playing outside Quade Cooper, which is good news now for the Wallabies and for the Reds ahead of Super Rugby next year.
Should he adapt to international rugby at the same rate as he has to Super Rugby, then Australia have a star on their hands.